Balenciaga

<a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search/default.aspx?Keywords=Nicolas">NICOLAS GHESQUIRE once again delivered a hit of an autumn/winter 2011-12 <a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/search/default.aspx/Shows/?designer=Balenciaga">Balenciaga collection this morning, this time leaving behind his biker punk girl of last season to replace her with a much more feminine and ladylike counterpart.

"Softness for me was the main point," said Kate Phelan after the show, noting its fluid and textural qualities – the soft draping of longer length skirts (worn with sweaters), and the knitting of leather into jackets to create something altogether more tactile and gentle in look. "For me, it had such an ease, which I love," said Phelan.

This time the shoes were shoes, as opposed to the heavy duty creations we have previously seen, and the make-up and hair was kept simple with some of the girls emphasising the graphic colour blocking elements of the collection (seen on tunics worn over trousers – a trend which has been taking off in all four fashion capitals), with electric blue stripes painted across their faces.

Wonderful and wild prints came in black on white backgrounds alongside an organic colour palette of orange, blue, brown and green. Skinny trousers came with zips up the back of their legs and worn with soft oversized coats, while huge, wide gauge fishnet was seen with white and fuchsia pink dresses and mesh ran over the shoulder of sleeveless jackets.

"He used punky devices, but in a pretty way," said Phelan.

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